Goodson found not guilty on all charges

Officer Caesar Goodson leaves the courthouse after the second day of his criminal trial in June 2016.

Credit AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

The panel in the Baltimore Police Trial Board found Officer Caesar Goodson Jr. not guilty on all administrative charges today. The ruling was unanimous.

Goodson, the van driver in the incident that led to Freddie gray's death in April 2015, gets to keep his job on the police force. His lawyer, Sean Malone said Goodson is relieved.

"Officer Goodson is just ready to get on," said Malone. "This has been three years. He had a murder charge over his head. He has had this over his head. He is a quiet man, he is a hardworking man. He is happy to just be able to resume his life.”

Goodson, who was acquitted on criminal charges last year, was charged administratively with providing false statements, failing to document activity on his daily run sheet, not securing Gray with a seat belt, and not providing medical assistance when requested by Gray.

“This is a vindication of this officer and what was done that day," said Malone. "This was a tragic accident that happened and we are sorry for the loss of Mr. Gray, but we’re glad our client is not going to be the face of this incident.”

Police Commissioner Kevin Davis said in a statement that he remains committed to the hearing process established through the Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights and will continue to make improvements to the department to meet expectations of constitutional policing demanded by the public.

In a press release, Mayor Catherine Pugh wrote “The verdict in the Caesar Goodson administrative hearing is the first of three pending trials and to offer any extensive comments would be inappropriate until the process is completed. I look forward to participating in the ongoing discussions about the LEOBR in Annapolis during the upcoming legislative session.”

Lieutenant Brian Rice is to go before a trial board next week, and Sergeant Alicia White’s trial board begins in early December.

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Officer Caesar Goodson, the van driver in the Freddie Gray case, has been facing a police trial board all week. Prosecutors have argued that Goodson’s failure to follow proper police procedure led to Gray’s death in April 2015 from a spinal cord injury suffered in the back of the van.

Gray was placed shackled and handcuffed in the back of the van. Prosecutors have said the lack of a seatbelt and Goodson's failure to respond to Gray’s requests for medical treatment violated policy and led to Gray’s death.

Officer Caesar Goodson Jr., the van driver in the Freddie Gray case, will go before a Baltimore City Police Department trial board today. Goodson, who was acquitted on criminal charges in the April 2015 incident, faces departmental charges of misconduct.